Mission: Addition #36
Loreen Leedy
Leedy, Loreen. (1997). Mission: Addition. New York: Scholistic.
Grade Level: 2-6
Content Area: Math
Author’s Credibility:
Access Features: Contents, chapters, answer page.
Summary: Mrs. Prime teachers her animal students how to solve addition problems by letting them become detective. She used a survey of the students’ pets. The students used addition to find out the total of animals. Mrs. Prime let them create their own word problems.
Standards: Math (addition facts, word problems, and vocabulary)
Response: I know the students will enjoy this book. It was presented in a comic strip format with animals pretending to be students. But, I thought that it was too busy for me. It had too much on a page—illustrations, format, animals. I would use it as read aloud. Then place it at the center.
Tone: Conversational
Other Books:
Domino Addition, Lynette Long
One Hundred Hungry Ants, Elinor J. Princzes
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom #34
Carole Boston Weatherford
Kadir Nelson, Illustrator
Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. New York: Hyperion.
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Coretta Scott King Award
Grade Level: 1-4
Genre: Historical Fiction
Content Area: Social Studies
Standards: Determine how democratic principles and values were established and exemplified by people, events, and symbols. (History, Civics)
Author’s Credibility: Carole has written over a dozen children’s books, which have won many awards. Her books include: The Sound That Jazz Makes won the Carter G. Woodson National Council of Social Studies and Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People won the Juvenile Literature Award.
Access Features: Foreword gives background about slavery. Author’s note gives background about Harriet Tubman’s life.
Summary: Harriet has had about all she can take of slavery. She does not want to be a slave any longer. She decides to run away from slavery. She is not sure of her decision and relies solely upon God for his guidance and strength. When she makes it to freedom, she knows that it was only through God's help that she made it. In her appreciation for his guidance, promise to help bring more people to freedom.
Illustrations: Big, bold, and dark to emphasize the threats of slavery. Full-page illustrations capture the strength and humbleness of Harriet.
Voice: Strong, poetic
Tone: Conversational
Text Structure: Problem/Solution
Response: I love it! The illustrations are so powerful and the conversation with God is too much. I wonder where did she get the courage to free, not only herself, but also all the others. I am definitely going to use this book with my soon after school begins. I want them to her story about not giving up and hopeful they want give up.
Other Books:
Gone Wind, David McLiman
Hattie Big Sky, Kirby Larson
Carole Boston Weatherford
Kadir Nelson, Illustrator
Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. New York: Hyperion.
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Coretta Scott King Award
Grade Level: 1-4
Genre: Historical Fiction
Content Area: Social Studies
Standards: Determine how democratic principles and values were established and exemplified by people, events, and symbols. (History, Civics)
Author’s Credibility: Carole has written over a dozen children’s books, which have won many awards. Her books include: The Sound That Jazz Makes won the Carter G. Woodson National Council of Social Studies and Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People won the Juvenile Literature Award.
Access Features: Foreword gives background about slavery. Author’s note gives background about Harriet Tubman’s life.
Summary: Harriet has had about all she can take of slavery. She does not want to be a slave any longer. She decides to run away from slavery. She is not sure of her decision and relies solely upon God for his guidance and strength. When she makes it to freedom, she knows that it was only through God's help that she made it. In her appreciation for his guidance, promise to help bring more people to freedom.
Illustrations: Big, bold, and dark to emphasize the threats of slavery. Full-page illustrations capture the strength and humbleness of Harriet.
Voice: Strong, poetic
Tone: Conversational
Text Structure: Problem/Solution
Response: I love it! The illustrations are so powerful and the conversation with God is too much. I wonder where did she get the courage to free, not only herself, but also all the others. I am definitely going to use this book with my soon after school begins. I want them to her story about not giving up and hopeful they want give up.
Other Books:
Gone Wind, David McLiman
Hattie Big Sky, Kirby Larson
Clara Barton: Spirit of the American Red Cross #33
Patricia Larkin
Simon Sullivan, Illustrator
Larkin, Patricia. (2004). Clara Barton: Spirit of the american red cross. New York:
Aladdin.
Awards:
Grade Level: 1-4
Content Area: Social Studies
Standards: Social Studies: History, Civics, and Economics (Explain why certain civic responsibilities are important for studying historical figures.)
Author’s Credibility: The author’s main source of information was Elizabeth Brown Pryor’s Clara Barton: Professional Angel.
Summary: A short biography of Clara Barton, the lady who started the chapter of the Red Cross in the United States in 1881. Even though the Red Cross had been organized in Switzerland in 1863, the United States was not a part of it. Clara worked hard to get the U.S. to become a part of that organization. At that time, the Red Cross only helped war victims. Clara added, “and for victims of natural disasters”.
Access Features: Chapters, timeline of Clara’s life
Illustrations: Watercolors
Text Structure: Chronological
Response: I would use this book with civil rights for women. Clara was denied a job as a teacher because was a woman. I enjoyed reading about Clara Barton because she got up the courage to work where she saw the need. How many times we see someone in need and we do nothing? Reading all these different books have made me think about too much philosophical things.
Other Books:
Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross, Augusta Stevenson
Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights, Deborah Hopkinson
Patricia Larkin
Simon Sullivan, Illustrator
Larkin, Patricia. (2004). Clara Barton: Spirit of the american red cross. New York:
Aladdin.
Awards:
Grade Level: 1-4
Content Area: Social Studies
Standards: Social Studies: History, Civics, and Economics (Explain why certain civic responsibilities are important for studying historical figures.)
Author’s Credibility: The author’s main source of information was Elizabeth Brown Pryor’s Clara Barton: Professional Angel.
Summary: A short biography of Clara Barton, the lady who started the chapter of the Red Cross in the United States in 1881. Even though the Red Cross had been organized in Switzerland in 1863, the United States was not a part of it. Clara worked hard to get the U.S. to become a part of that organization. At that time, the Red Cross only helped war victims. Clara added, “and for victims of natural disasters”.
Access Features: Chapters, timeline of Clara’s life
Illustrations: Watercolors
Text Structure: Chronological
Response: I would use this book with civil rights for women. Clara was denied a job as a teacher because was a woman. I enjoyed reading about Clara Barton because she got up the courage to work where she saw the need. How many times we see someone in need and we do nothing? Reading all these different books have made me think about too much philosophical things.
Other Books:
Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross, Augusta Stevenson
Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights, Deborah Hopkinson
Ducks! #32
Gail Gibbons
Gibbons, Gail. (2001). Ducks! New York: Holiday House.
Awards:
Grade Level: 2-5
Content Area: Life Science
Standards: Life Science (Classifying, environment, ecology, habitats)
Author’s Credibility: She makes special trips to all the different places before she writes a book. She gives special thanks to Wildlife Resource Center in Delmar, New York.
Access Features: Front jacket cover provides an overview of the book. Back cover lists other books by Gibbons. There is a page with additional facts on it.
Summary: An informative book about the different kinds of ducks and how they survive in the environment. Ducks live everywhere, except in Antarctica. They are put into two groups, dabbling and diving basically because of eating habits. Many ducks are losing their habitats because of building new homes, highways, and factories. There are conservations groups working to saving their homes.
Illustrations: Watercolors
Text Structure: Descriptive
Tone: conversational
Response: I like it when I find out new stuff. I found out that there are over 150 different kinds of ducks and they are divided into to groups. The drake (male) does not stick around to help raise the young ducklings. Isn’t that just like a man? (smile)
Science Processes: Classify, observing, predicting, and inferring.
Related Books:
Gail Gibbons
Gibbons, Gail. (2001). Ducks! New York: Holiday House.
Awards:
Grade Level: 2-5
Content Area: Life Science
Standards: Life Science (Classifying, environment, ecology, habitats)
Author’s Credibility: She makes special trips to all the different places before she writes a book. She gives special thanks to Wildlife Resource Center in Delmar, New York.
Access Features: Front jacket cover provides an overview of the book. Back cover lists other books by Gibbons. There is a page with additional facts on it.
Summary: An informative book about the different kinds of ducks and how they survive in the environment. Ducks live everywhere, except in Antarctica. They are put into two groups, dabbling and diving basically because of eating habits. Many ducks are losing their habitats because of building new homes, highways, and factories. There are conservations groups working to saving their homes.
Illustrations: Watercolors
Text Structure: Descriptive
Tone: conversational
Response: I like it when I find out new stuff. I found out that there are over 150 different kinds of ducks and they are divided into to groups. The drake (male) does not stick around to help raise the young ducklings. Isn’t that just like a man? (smile)
Science Processes: Classify, observing, predicting, and inferring.
Related Books:
Great Black Heroes: Five Brilliant Scientists #31
Lynda Jones
Ron Garnett, Illustrator
Jones, Lynda. (2002). Great black heroes: Five brilliant scientists. New York:
Scholastic.
Awards: I was not able to find any awards.
Grade Level: 2-3
Standards: Life and Physical Science (Botany, Medicine, Marine Biology, and Chemistry)
Author’s Credibility: Jones acknowledgments Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYPL, Long Island Historical Society, and many others that provided their services.
Summary: A short biography of five African Americans who did not quit in spite of their obstacles. The book describes their early lives and their notable achievements made by these five black scientists: Susan McKinney Stewart (MD), George Washington Carver (Agricultural), Ernest Everett Just (Marine), Percy Lavon Julian (Chemist, glaucoma), and Shirley Ann Jackson (Nuclear Physicist).
Access Features: A note to the parents that provide strategies for before, during, and after reading.
Illustrations: Photographs, oil on canvas, and paintings.
Genre: Biography
Text: Chronological
Use: I would this in an independent center because the text is short and simple enough for independent reading.
Response: You can relate to diseases or other situations when you know about them. You hear about events or situations all the time, but you don’t react to them. When I read that Percy Julian discovered glaucoma, it was like I know him because now I can associate glaucoma with him. I hear that word all the time when I go for eye examinations.
Related Books:
Five Brave Explorers and Five Notable Inventors, Lynda Jones.
Lynda Jones
Ron Garnett, Illustrator
Jones, Lynda. (2002). Great black heroes: Five brilliant scientists. New York:
Scholastic.
Awards: I was not able to find any awards.
Grade Level: 2-3
Standards: Life and Physical Science (Botany, Medicine, Marine Biology, and Chemistry)
Author’s Credibility: Jones acknowledgments Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYPL, Long Island Historical Society, and many others that provided their services.
Summary: A short biography of five African Americans who did not quit in spite of their obstacles. The book describes their early lives and their notable achievements made by these five black scientists: Susan McKinney Stewart (MD), George Washington Carver (Agricultural), Ernest Everett Just (Marine), Percy Lavon Julian (Chemist, glaucoma), and Shirley Ann Jackson (Nuclear Physicist).
Access Features: A note to the parents that provide strategies for before, during, and after reading.
Illustrations: Photographs, oil on canvas, and paintings.
Genre: Biography
Text: Chronological
Use: I would this in an independent center because the text is short and simple enough for independent reading.
Response: You can relate to diseases or other situations when you know about them. You hear about events or situations all the time, but you don’t react to them. When I read that Percy Julian discovered glaucoma, it was like I know him because now I can associate glaucoma with him. I hear that word all the time when I go for eye examinations.
Related Books:
Five Brave Explorers and Five Notable Inventors, Lynda Jones.
Bog Mummies: Preserved in Peat #30
Charlotte Wilcox
Wilcox, Charlotte. (2003). Bog mummies: Preserved in peat. Mankato: Capstone.
Awards: Science Trade Book
Grade Level: 3-6
Genre: Informational
Standards: Science As Inquiry (History and Nature of Science, Anthropology, Archaeology, and Paleontology)
Author’s Credibility: Credits were given to National Museum of Denmark, Silkeborg Museum, Denmark, Hulton Archive by Getty Images and others.
Access Features: Contents, index, words to know, places of interests, Internet sites, map sidebars, and suggested books.
Summary: Describes how bog mummies are found and how they are preserved. Most of the mummies have been found in Europe, Denmark, and Germany. Scientists believe peat and sphagnum moss have helped slow down the decaying of the bodies. The hands were the most preserved part of the body. Scientists also believe most bog mummies were victims of human sacrifice.
Illustrations: Photographs
Text: Descriptive
Use: This book is not appropriate for my second grade students, but I would use it as a resource when we do our dinosaur digs.
Response: These bog mummies have been buried for thousands of years. It is amazing how the bodies are still intact. It was an interesting book. Some of the photographs were a little too vivid for me, but you know that’s what kids like. That “gross stuff”. It reminded me of the Pompeii book.
Science Processes: Observing, classifying, inferring, experimenting, predicting, measuring
Related Books:
Bog Bodies, Janet Buell
Bodies From the Bog, James Deem
Mummies, Bones, and Body Parts, Charlotte Wilcox
Charlotte Wilcox
Wilcox, Charlotte. (2003). Bog mummies: Preserved in peat. Mankato: Capstone.
Awards: Science Trade Book
Grade Level: 3-6
Genre: Informational
Standards: Science As Inquiry (History and Nature of Science, Anthropology, Archaeology, and Paleontology)
Author’s Credibility: Credits were given to National Museum of Denmark, Silkeborg Museum, Denmark, Hulton Archive by Getty Images and others.
Access Features: Contents, index, words to know, places of interests, Internet sites, map sidebars, and suggested books.
Summary: Describes how bog mummies are found and how they are preserved. Most of the mummies have been found in Europe, Denmark, and Germany. Scientists believe peat and sphagnum moss have helped slow down the decaying of the bodies. The hands were the most preserved part of the body. Scientists also believe most bog mummies were victims of human sacrifice.
Illustrations: Photographs
Text: Descriptive
Use: This book is not appropriate for my second grade students, but I would use it as a resource when we do our dinosaur digs.
Response: These bog mummies have been buried for thousands of years. It is amazing how the bodies are still intact. It was an interesting book. Some of the photographs were a little too vivid for me, but you know that’s what kids like. That “gross stuff”. It reminded me of the Pompeii book.
Science Processes: Observing, classifying, inferring, experimenting, predicting, measuring
Related Books:
Bog Bodies, Janet Buell
Bodies From the Bog, James Deem
Mummies, Bones, and Body Parts, Charlotte Wilcox
Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till #29
Chris Crowe
Crowe, Chris. (2003). Getting away with murder: The true story of the Emmett Till
case. New York: Dial.
Awards: Jane Addams Honor Book
Grade Level: 4-8
Standards: Social Studies: Discover how democratic values were established and have been exemplified by people, events, and symbols. (History, Civil Rights)
Author Credibility: Crowe interviewed Till’s mother and also did extensive research on this topic.
Summary: This is a great book about the story of Emmett Till. Emmett Till, a young naive boy from Chicago, visits his family in Mississippi and never returns home again. This book chronologically discusses the events that happened before and after his death including the court case.
Illustrations: Archival black and white photographs that will put you right there on the scene. The most memorable one is the photograph of Emmett’s mother when the casket arrived in Chicago. I could really feel her pain as I examined that photograph.
Access Features: The front cover contains a photograph of Till with lines drawn to the title and the house where he stayed in Mississippi. The book has a table of contents with titles for all the chapters. Text is written under the photographs.
Response: When I was reading this book, I made a connection with another reading class where the group did a report on Emmett Till. When Emmett’s mother had to identify his body. She said that was the hardest thing that she had to do because his body was so badly mutilated. That was the hardest part for me to read. I cried during the whole book.
Use. This book would be appropriate for grades 4-8, but I would use it in collaboration with teaching students about the struggles that blacks had to endure just because of their race.
Related Text:
Mississippi Burning Trial by Bill Scheppler
Chris Crowe
Crowe, Chris. (2003). Getting away with murder: The true story of the Emmett Till
case. New York: Dial.
Awards: Jane Addams Honor Book
Grade Level: 4-8
Standards: Social Studies: Discover how democratic values were established and have been exemplified by people, events, and symbols. (History, Civil Rights)
Author Credibility: Crowe interviewed Till’s mother and also did extensive research on this topic.
Summary: This is a great book about the story of Emmett Till. Emmett Till, a young naive boy from Chicago, visits his family in Mississippi and never returns home again. This book chronologically discusses the events that happened before and after his death including the court case.
Illustrations: Archival black and white photographs that will put you right there on the scene. The most memorable one is the photograph of Emmett’s mother when the casket arrived in Chicago. I could really feel her pain as I examined that photograph.
Access Features: The front cover contains a photograph of Till with lines drawn to the title and the house where he stayed in Mississippi. The book has a table of contents with titles for all the chapters. Text is written under the photographs.
Response: When I was reading this book, I made a connection with another reading class where the group did a report on Emmett Till. When Emmett’s mother had to identify his body. She said that was the hardest thing that she had to do because his body was so badly mutilated. That was the hardest part for me to read. I cried during the whole book.
Use. This book would be appropriate for grades 4-8, but I would use it in collaboration with teaching students about the struggles that blacks had to endure just because of their race.
Related Text:
Mississippi Burning Trial by Bill Scheppler
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